Sussex murder suspect 'paid victim to pose for bondage pictures'

Mark Brown, of Squirrel Close in St Leonards, then sexually assaulted mum-of-three Leah Ware while she was tied up in a car boot, her friend told a jury at Hove Crown Court.

Brown, 41, denies murdering two women at Little Bridge Farm near Hastings.

A jury heard he paid Leah Ware at least £3,000 for two photo shoots at the farm. Her body has never been found.

Leah Ware (Image: Sussex Police)

Charred teeth and bones identified as Alexandra Morgan were found at a building site in Sevenoaks, Kent, where Brown was working.

He has admitted to being present when Alexandra died and disposing of her body by fire.

Leah was in a relationship with Brown who lived in St Leonards with his partner. She lived in a shipping container inside a barn rented by Brown at Little Bridge Farm.

Her friend Tara Casey said Leah was scared of Brown and tried to get away from him after the photo shoots.

“They were to be taken at the farm either in his car or another car, in the boot.

“She was to be dressed provocatively in lingerie and so forth and tied up.

“He was going to tie her up and I believe he was paying her £3,000.”

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Leah was distraught and inconsolable when she told her friend about the photo shoots, Ms Casey said.

Brown asked for another photoshoot after saying the first set of pictures was not good enough, she said.

She said: “He wanted her to look a little bit different this time with more props.

“She mentioned being tied up and a gag was put in her mouth.

“She said it wasn’t a ball, it was a tube down her throat.

“He did what he wanted to her while she was tied up.

“He had sex with her while she was tied up, I believe orally.”

Mark Brown denies murdering two women (Image: Sussex News and Pictures)

Brown untied her and kissed her goodbye before leaving the farm, Ms Casey said.

Mark Brown denies murdering sex workers Leah Ware and Alexandra Morgan.

Alex, a single mother-of-two from Sissinghurst, Kent, was reported missing in November 2021 after failing to return from a weekend away.

She was last seen filling her car at a petrol station near her home in Cranbrook, Kent on the morning of November 14.

Leah, a mother-of-three from Hastings, was last seen by a friend in the early hours of May 6, 2021.

The trial continues.